SEASONAL FASHION: From Sweaters to Cardigans

It's that time of year where we put away the heavy sweaters in favor of lighter knits. A great Spring piece to transition from cold to warm weather is a cardigan. It can be easily layered over thin clothing to warm it up, and folded up into a purse when removed, without wrinkling. These are something I actually wear year round, since our climate is moderate during the cold months. I'm loving these printed cardigans, as it's a change from my normal solid colored cardigans. They are in fun cheerful prints, sure to dash away those Winter blues. Click on any of the images to be taken to the shop they are from. Many of you have bulky sweaters that you wear during the cold months, and pack away in favor of warm weather clothing. When you have this sort of process for seasonal clothing, you need to know how to properly store it. Below the images, are some great ways to store your sweaters and prevent moths.

I don't wear animal fibers, because they make my skin itchy. However, many people do, and need to take extra care of their sweaters to prevent moths. Here are some storage tips to avoid moths, which love to eat animal hair fiber.

1) Before storing, wash and dry all of your sweaters! You want to wash with cold water on a delicate cycle, or by hand. You need to air dry the sweaters, because the heat from the drier will shrink them. Do not hang them on hangers ever...but especailly when they are wet. This will deform the shoulders. Dry them laying flat, or over a rail, to maintain their shape. Make sure the sweaters are completely dry before storing them, or mold and mildew will form. This can spread to all surrounding clothing, and is almost impossible to remove. If your sweaters are dry clean only, get those dry cleaned.

2) Don't use moth balls. They smell terrible to start with, but can also irritate skin. The clothing is going on your skin, so you don't want this. Some excellent alternatives are lavender sachets and cedar balls. I've been told that dried rosemary, thyme, and cloves in addition to the cedar and lavender, in sachets can also help repel moths. Instead of the dried versions, essential oils placed on cedar chips will work too. A sachet can be as simple as an old sock, simple fabric bag, or mini pillow.

3) Some people use tightly sealed containers to store their sweaters, but to me not letting natural fibers to breath, can cause them to decay. I prefer storage tubs, as air can get to them, and they are easy to access if you need to add or subtract items.

4) Fold your sweaters neatly and flat. They are less likely to get odd storage creases if they are folded flat, vs rolled. Rolling might take up less room, but they will compress the fibers and knitting patterns which can distort and damage them. Rolling is ok for traveling, which is a short term storage, but for long term, packing them folded flat is a must. Place the sweaters neatly in the storage containers, layering protective sachets every few sweaters.

That's it. If you don't have a mouse problem, then your sweaters will be safe from moths for many months.